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Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2025 7:56 pm
by rmeckman
I happened to notice that Abrams tanks with a hasty move order are moving along a road at about 10 km/h at night (0% illumination) but more like 40 km/h during the day. So far, I haven't seen any specific statement in the manual that unit speeds vary with light levels. Do speeds vary with the current illumination level percentage or with general time of day (day, dusk, night, dawn)?

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2025 11:47 pm
by WildCatNL
Night driving speed is reduced for low illumination levels (less than 41%) unless the vehicle has night vision equipment for the driver. For example, some US recon HMMWV, some M113 APCs, some tanks (M48/M60/M551) have dedicated IR driving sights for the driver.

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 12:14 am
by CapnDarwin
Something we will add to the Ops Guide if it's missing. Thanks for the information.

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 3:10 am
by Tcao
I remember this is a feature added in FCSS. And yes, units without IR driving will move at 25% of its max speed at 0% Illumination level

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:56 pm
by rmeckman
Seems like the Abrams added a passive IR system for the driver at some point, perhaps not in time for the FC:CW period.

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2025 9:20 am
by Dzezmen83
“It would be helpful if the manual also included information on how Readiness is affected by different movement speeds and movement types.”

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2025 12:15 pm
by WildCatNL
Dzezmen83 wrote: Sat Dec 06, 2025 9:20 am “It would be helpful if the manual also included information on how Readiness is affected by different movement speeds and movement types.”
It isn't - all movement has the same impact. Readiness losses due to movement are insignificant relative to those from combat, receiving indirect fire, minefields, NBC.

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2025 9:36 am
by Dzezmen83
WildCatNL wrote: Sat Dec 06, 2025 12:15 pm
Dzezmen83 wrote: Sat Dec 06, 2025 9:20 am “It would be helpful if the manual also included information on how Readiness is affected by different movement speeds and movement types.”
It isn't - all movement has the same impact. Readiness losses due to movement are insignificant relative to those from combat, receiving indirect fire, minefields, NBC.
I did some testing on this. Here’s what I found:
The same Abrams platoon moved 7 hexes using an Assault order and lost 8% Readiness.
The same platoon on the same route with a Deliberate Movement order lost 5% Readiness.
With Hasty Movement, it only lost 3%.

Re: Illumination Level Affects Unit Speed

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2025 3:17 pm
by WildCatNL
Thanks for testing. I expect the duration to play in this, not necessarily movement. Move Hasty might end sooner than Move Deliberate. However, that doesn't explain the difference between Assault and Move Deliberate (which should take similar time).
When I find more time, I'll check the implementation.